The Fratellis

The Fratellis

The Fratellis are a Scottish rock band from Glasgow, active since 2005. They work in alternative rock, garage rock, indie pop, indie rock, pop and post-punk revival, and are made up of Jon Fratelli, Barry Fratelli and Mince Fratelli. Their name comes from the criminal family in The Goonies; by coincidence, Barry Fratelli’s mother’s maiden name is also Fratelli.

Formation and early shows

The band first receives radio play in 2005 on Beat 106’s Beatscene show in central Scotland, hosted by Jim Gellatly. They sign to Fallout Records and play their first show on 4 March 2005 at O'Henry's bar in Glasgow, across from the Horseshoe bar. Their first release is The Fratellis EP, issued in April 2006 and including “Stacie Anne” and “The Gutterati?”. “Creepin' Up the Backstairs” has a video, but is not released as a single. Their first single is “Henrietta”, released in June 2006 and reaching number 19 on the UK singles chart.

Debut album: Costello Music

Their debut album, Costello Music, is released in September 2006 and reaches number two in the UK album chart for three weeks. The album’s success leads to the band winning the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2007. In the same period they support Kasabian on a UK tour, play their own dates in 2007, and appear on the festival circuit, including Glastonbury, NME’s Rock 'n' Riot tour, OXEGEN 2007 and T in the Park 2007. They also open for The Police Reunion Tour on some North American dates in summer 2007.

During 2007 they record covers including “All Along the Watchtower” for Radio 1: Established 1967, a BBC Radio 1 40th anniversary compilation, and “Solid Gold Easy Action” for the soundtrack to Hot Fuzz, which also includes the single “Baby Fratelli”. Their first live DVD, Edgy In Brixton, is released in October 2007 and is recorded at Brixton Academy in London.

Here We Stand and live expansion

Their second album, Here We Stand, is written and recorded in Glasgow, with the band self-producing and using their own studio. Work on the album begins in late 2007 and recording finishes in January 2008. A live performance in February 2008 introduces new songs including “Mistress Mabel”, “Acid Jazz Singer” and “Look Out Sunshine!”, and also brings in touring members Robin Peringer and keyboard player Will Foster. Robin later leaves the tour, while Will Foster continues on keyboard and guitar.

Here We Stand is released in June 2008 in the UK and the United States. Its singles include “Mistress Mabel”, “Look Out Sunshine!” and “A Heady Tale”. The band marks the US release with sold-out shows in New York City, Boston and Los Angeles. A deluxe edition includes the track “Moriarty's Last Stand” and a DVD with The Year of the Thief, a documentary of the band on the road in the US, plus live material.

Hiatus and side projects

After the Hop Farm Festival show in 2009, the band takes an extended break after heavy touring and strained relationships within the group. Jon Fratelli forms Codeine Velvet Club with singer and songwriter Lou Hickey, releases a self-titled album with that project in December 2009, then moves on to a solo career. His solo album Psycho Jukebox is released in 2010, and his shelved solo album Bright Night Flowers is later re-recorded and issued in 2019.

Barry Fratelli says he is starting his own musical project, and later reveals that he has joined Birmingham band The Twang, with whom he plays until August 2012. He is also a regular DJ. Mince Fratelli joins heavy metal band Throne o' Diablo before leaving, then plays with Jon’s solo band as a second drummer, backing vocalist and occasional guitarist during the Psycho Jukebox tour.

Return and later albums

The Fratellis play their first show since 2009 in June 2012 for the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund. They then play at O2 ABC Glasgow and announce a UK tour for 2013. During this period they debut several songs live, including “She's Not Gone Yet But She's Leaving”, “Seven Nights Seven Days”, “Whiskey Saga”, “This Old Ghost Town” and “Rock n Roll Will Break Your Heart”.

Their third album, We Need Medicine, is recorded in Glasgow with Jon Fratelli and Stuart McCredie producing. “Seven Nights Seven Days” is released as a single in 2013. The band continues touring through the US, UK, Europe, mainland Europe and Japan, and issues The Soul Crush EP for free on their website in 2014.

For their fourth album, they record in Los Angeles with Tony Hoffer producing again, after he also works on their debut and on Jon’s solo album Psycho Jukebox. Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied is released through Cooking Vinyl in 2015, with “Me and the Devil” and “Baby Don't You Lie To Me” among the tracks promoted from the album. In late 2016 they tour the UK to mark the 10-year anniversary of Costello Music.

In Your Own Sweet Time and recent work

In 2017 the band records in Los Angeles again with Tony Hoffer producing their fifth album. In Your Own Sweet Time is released in March 2018 on CD, LP, limited edition orange LP and cassette, followed by a UK tour and then US dates later in 2018.

After this recording period, Jon Fratelli re-records Bright Night Flowers, which is released in 2019. He supports the solo album with shows in London and Glasgow, performing much of the record alongside rearranged Fratellis songs and covers.